Top officials from China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region say the region is at its best time in history when meeting reporters in Beijing on Tuesday. They also welcome visits to the vocational centers there as part of their measures of counter-terrorism and deradicalization.

The top officials from the region say the GDP grew 200 times since it was officially established in 1955. Last year, central government subsidies accounted for over 60 percent of Xinjiang's budgetary expenditures. Illiteracy rate there was 90 percent around 1949. Last year over 99.9 percent of children went to primary schools. Residents' life expectancy also increased from 30 to 72.35.

"Today's Xinjiang has a stable society, a developing economy, ethnic unity, harmonious religions. People of all ethnic groups are living and working in peace and contentment. All careers are prosperous. It's in the best development period in history", says Shohrat Zakir, chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

While introducing economic progress in Xinjiang over the last seven decades, the officials also stressed boosting ethnic unity in the multi-ethnic autonomous region, and restricting the spread of religious extremism is also one of the government's key tasks now.

Xinjiang has taken a series of counter-terrorism and deradicalization measures, including setting up vocational education and training centers. The officials said tens of countries' envoys, ambassadors, international organization officials and reporters have visited the centers.

The region's vice chairman Alken Tuniaz says, "We made achievements in practice and exploration. Many people have found jobs, some signed working contracts at hometown, some started business with government support, lifting their families out of poverty."

"The majority of visitors, including officials from other countries, felt this is an initiative in the world, it's a good education method to contain the spread of terrorism crimes and extremism. Now people in Xinjiang are focusing on how to get rich for a happy life, to tolerate different groups and ethnic groups, it's a positive change. We welcome media, officials, people from all walks of life, religious people to visit Xinjiang any time, to anywhere, any vocational center", Shohrat Zakir added.

Xinjiang borders eight countries and is being built as the hub of Silk Road Economic Belt. The region has 21 civil airports, with flights to Tehran in Iran, Tbilisi in Georgia and Vienna in Austria.

(Cover: Sayram Lake in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. /VCG Photo)